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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. can — to be able to
  4. root — the cause
  5. net — for catching
  6. swing — music
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. lie — to recline
  9. can — a tin
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. can — a tin
  12. deal — to handle
  13. swing — in golf
  14. root — of a plant
  15. swing — to play on
  16. net — in sport
  17. season — of the year
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. season — in sport
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. root — of a word
  24. deal — a big deal

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com